Cotton-compress.



w HI LL. COTTON COMPRESS.

APPLlCATlON FILED JAN. I2. 1916.

1,230,709. Patented June 19, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

WITNESSES Y "wen/r01? William ml! W ,4 "ORA/Em 5m; "mums men cm. luammm. wumkmn. n. c

W. H\LL.

COTTON COMPRESS.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. I2, 1916.

1,230,709. Patented'June 19, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES mvmron William Hill 6; g I By W W /17T0RNEY8 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM HILL, 0F ALEXANDRIA, LOUISIANA.

corron-colvrrnnss.

Application filed January 12, 1916.

Alexandria, in the parish of Rapides and State of Louisiana, have invented a new and Improved Cottonecompress, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact desorip-' tion.

The invention relates to improvements in presses and more particularly to compresses of the general design and construction disclosed in Patent No. 1,062,4l65, issued to me May 20, 1913, and in Patent No. 1,164,519 issued to me December 14, 1915, to which patents cross reference is here made.

An objection has existed in the operation of the presses in that the material when treated by the said pressesextends laterally from between the platens of the press, thereby increasing the bulk of the bale and formin margins of material having a density diderent from the density of the body of the bale. It is the principal object of the present invention to overcome this objection and to provide a compress to prevent the lateral extension or flow of the material under pressure.

Drawings.

Figure 1 is a side view of a compress constructed and arranged as in accordance with the present invention; and

Fig. 2 is a top plan view showing on an enlarged scale confining sides and operating mechanism therefor.

Description.

moved together by a pressure applied to said platens, by a relatively quick acting medium,

such as steam introduced in a cy1inder'9 and by a relatively slower medium, such as water introduced into a hydraulic ram 10. The pressures thus employed are primarily imposed on the platens 7 and 8 successively. Both platens are impelled to move in equal degree by a connecting transmission mechanism employing link arms 11, lever arms 12, which are integrally connected -with gear segments 13 and pivoted therewith on stud shafts 14 in a standing frame 15. As seen best in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the segments 13 are operatively connected with gear racks Specification of Letters Patent.

To this end, a head platen 7 and a base platen 8 are Patented June 19-, 1917.

Serial No. 71,699.

16 on a plunger 17, which enters the hydraulic ram 10, as more fully described in the patent and application referred to. Vhen steam is admitted to the cylinder 9, the platens 7 and 8am moved rapidly toward each other and upon the bale of cotton or other material which has been placed on the platen 8. The force expended by the steam is relatively slight and the movement of the platens is soon arrested by the resistance of the bale; A preliminary pressure, however, of a greater or less degree is effected by the steam and in a relatively quick period of time. I/Vater is drawn into the ram 10 by the movement of the plunger 17 thereof and when the resistance of the bale overcomes the force of the steam, the further movement of the platens is induced by the pressure exerted thereon by the operation of the hydraulic ram 10. The synchronism of the two platens is maintained by the same means, to wit, the link arms 11 and lever arms 12. The relatively slow, but intense pressure exerted by the ram 10 is continued until the bale is compressed to the desired thickness betweenthe two platens.

The sides of the bale while undergoing the action above noted, being heretofore unrewhich are pivotally mounted by hinge pins 19 in brackets 20, fixedly mounted on the standing frame 15 and at one side thereof. To reinforce the sides 18, each side is furnished with ribs 21, as seen best in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Operatively connected with the ribs 21 by hinge bolts 22 are toggle plates 23. The plates 23 are pivotally connected by hings bolts 24 with toggle links 25. The said links are pivotally connected by the pins 26 between the extension frames 27 and at the outer ends thereof.

The frames 27 are centrally united by a cylinder 28 bored to house a power cylinder 29, to which steam is admitted from a suitable source by way of a supply pipe 30, as seen best in Fig. 1 of the drawings. e-

tween the extension members of the frames the ends of a cross head 33 which is operatively connected with the piston rod 34 and to support and aline which the runways 35 are provided.

lVithin the cylinder 29, a piston 36 is mounted and suitably packed to be moved by the steam which is admitted thereto, and

in accordance with the throw of the throttle lever 37 which controls a valve in a steam chest 38 adapted to be selectively operated for introducing the steam at one or the other side of the piston 36. The steam exhausted from the cylinder 29 is conveyed away by the exhaust pipe 39.

Operation.

The operation of a compress thus constructed is as follows: The balehavingbeen. disposed between the platens 7 and 8 and the old bands thereof having been removed and new bands having been properly disposed, the sides 18 are closed on the baleand locked in operative position and preferably preliminary to the introduction of power to the cylinder 9 and ram- 10.

To accomplish the above result, the at tendant manipulates the lever 37 to introduce steam to the cylinder-29 at the outerside of'the piston 36. The piston 36 and cross head 33 connected therewith-and the arms 31 are moved forward. \Vhen the sides 18 are inactively disposed they are swung back on the pins 19 until they are parallel with the frames 27 or are in position to clear the entrance to the platens 7' and 8.

In this position of the frames, the piston- 36 is at the forward end of the cylinder 29 and the toggle plates 23 and links 25 are collapsed, the togglebreaking in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2

of the drawings. When the steam is introduced to the cylinder 29 as above stated, the toggle plates 23 and links 25 are extended to their active position, as best shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, where it will be noted the bolts 24: are carried beyond a straight plane intersecting the centers of bolts 22 and pins 26. In this position, the

toggles formed by the plates 23 and the links 25 are locked by any subsequent pressure exerted on the sides 18 andwhenthe cross head 33 is held from further movement.

The sides 18 being-thus movedto compress the bale and to planes coincident with Y during this pressure, any tendency on the.

part of the material forming the bale to extend from the long sides of the platens is opposed by the sides 18, which are locked immovably during the movement of the platens 7 and 8.

After the bale has been compressed, the sides 18 are swung back, as the result of the operator manipulating the lever 37 to admit steam to the opposite end of the cylinder 29, when the power applied to. the piston 36, will operate to force outward the" cross head 33 in the direction shown by the arrow in, Fig. 2 of the drawings, pulling upon the arms 31 to break the lock of the toggle plates 23 and links 25.

After the sides 18 have been moved, the

bale being secured against. extension, is, released by the platens 7 and 8 andremoved from the machine. It will then be'seen that the rectangular form ofthe cross section of the bale has been preserved and that if any tendency to flow is present, it will. be manifest at the ends and not at the sides of the bale.

Claims.

1. A compress, comprising-a bale chamber. having open sides andprovidednwitli extensions at its sides, compressing means: working 111 sald chamber, hinged'w-mgsfor" closing the open sides of the said chamber, pair of toggle levers for the wings, one

member of each pair of toggle levers'bei'ngplvoted-to awing and the other member to: an extension of the bale chamber, a power cylinder carried by said chamber, a piston in the cylinder, a cross head secured to the piston rod and having guided movement, and arms pivoted to the ends'of the cross head and to the pivots-connecting-the mem member to the extension frames, a power cylinder secured to the extension frame and and to the pivots connecting-the-membersof the toggle levers.

In testimony whereof I have signedmyname to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. v

WILLIAM HILL.

Witnesses:

B. BENNETTE, A. V. IIUNDLER'.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents eaclnby addressing the Commissioner oflatents, Washington, D. 0." 

